Drunkenness.- ?Athanasius (Saint) Fragment of a leaf on parchment in Sahidic Coptic, Upper Egypt, [7th or 8th century].

Drunkenness.- ?Athanasius (Saint) Fragment of a leaf on parchment in Sahidic Coptic, remains of 12 lines from the centre of a column of text written on both sides in an uncial script, remains of feet of a single large penwork initial, stained and browned, irregular edges, set in glass, maximum dimensions 95 x 95mm., Upper Egypt, [7th or 8th century].

⁂ Possibly by Athanasius (c.296-373), Bishop of Alexandria, who spent much of his episcopacy in exile after clashing with several Roman Emperors over his stance on Trinitarianism against Arianism (specifically their belief that Jesus, the Son of God, is distinct from God the Father). He was known as Athanasius Contra Mundum but not long after his death was recognised as one of the pillars of the Church, a position he still holds within the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church. This fragment is perhaps from one of his ascetic works, a treatise on Sickness and Health.

Provenance: old German collection.